When President Trump ordered the federal government to boost water deliveries in California, the Army Corps of Engineers quickly sprang into action. They identified two dams, Schafer and Terminus, where they could release large amounts of water. However, officials were aware that this water could not be easily moved out of the Central Valley, yet they proceeded to release billions of gallons anyway.
In a memo dated February 3, Colonel Chad Caldwell, the corps’ regional commander, detailed how the agency responded to Trump’s directive. The memo highlighted that the corps decided to release water from the dams in January, despite pushback from local water managers and lawmakers who were concerned about potential flooding and the unnecessary nature of the release.
Ann Willis, the California regional director of American Rivers, criticized the decision as reckless and wasteful. She expressed disbelief that officials would release water that farmers and cities depended on, especially given the risk of flooding.
Local water managers were caught off guard when they learned about the planned releases. They argued that the water wasn’t needed at that time of year and warned that the sudden influx could cause damage. In response to these concerns, federal officials scaled back their initial plans and released significantly less water than originally intended.
The Army Corps began its review of water levels and authorities on January 29, five days after Trump’s order. The aim was to increase water flow to Los Angeles, especially after recent wildfires. However, local water managers indicated they already had enough water for firefighting efforts. They pointed out that the state, not the federal government, controls the aqueducts that deliver water to Southern California.
Caldwell noted in the memo that while water was available in two reservoirs, Success Lake and Lake Kaweah, it could not be directly delivered to Southern California. He explained that moving the water would require coordination with the state Department of Water Resources and that otherwise, the water would remain in the Tulare Lake Basin, which farmers rely on for irrigation during the summer.
On January 30, Caldwell communicated with key water managers, including the California Department of Water Resources Director, who indicated that they would need more time to prepare their systems for the additional water. After further discussions, the corps decided to reduce the amount of water to be released.
Several lawmakers, including Reps. Vince Fong and David Valadao, expressed concerns about the water releases, emphasizing the importance of reserving water for the summer growing season. Caldwell affirmed that the releases were made in accordance with Trump’s executive order but assured lawmakers that the flows would be limited to safe levels to avoid downstream flooding.
Despite these assurances, local officials were anxious about the sudden release of water. Denise England, a Tulare County flood control manager, described the notification as alarming and unnecessary, recalling how previous storms had caused significant flooding in the region. Fortunately, local water agencies acted quickly to manage the water, capturing it for groundwater recharge instead of allowing it to flood farmland.
By the end of the operation, the total amount of water released was about 2.5 billion gallons, far less than the 5.2 billion gallons Trump had claimed would be released. Criticism of the Army Corps’ actions continued, with lawmakers demanding more transparency and coordination in water management decisions.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in California’s water management system, especially as the state grapples with drought and the need for careful resource allocation. The swift actions by local agencies may have prevented a worse outcome, but many remain concerned about how such decisions are made in the future.